At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, you'll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career.

Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.

American Express' General Counsel Organization (GCO) in Mexico, is seeking a Manager and Counsel to serve primarily (but not limited to) as legal counsel for the Global Commercial Services (GMS) business line within the company in Mexico, an expanding and evolving area.  The successful candidate will be responsible for negotiating complex business agreements and providing strategic legal support and advice to the different teams within GMS, as well as other cross-functional teams within American Express. This position will report to the Director & Counsel based in Mexico who supports GMS business.

This position requires regularly navigating new business and legal issues on a wide range of payment-related issues and working seamlessly with colleagues around the world.  It also provides the opportunity to lead and contribute to a host of strategic projects at GMNS and to collaborate with colleagues across business units and the GCO on meaningful business initiatives.

The GMS business, is a core business of American Express. It builds and maintains relationships with merchants who choose to accept the American Express Card and financial services companies that enable merchants to accept the Card, simultaneously offering differentiated products and services and driving revenue growth for both merchants and American Express.  The GMS business is responsible for signing merchants to accept the Card, processing Card transactions, and providing marketing and other innovative programs and services to grow our merchant-to-merchant relationships and Card acceptance.

Role & Responsibilities:

·       Provide legal and strategic advice on a broad range of matters impacting all different GMS relationships, all within a dynamic business and regulatory environment; this role will be also providing partial support on the GNS business in matters related to the network, which also involves relation engagement with licensed issuers and acquirers.

·       Draft and negotiate complex, global/local commercial contracts with leading fintechs and other merchant-acquiring partners as well as other contracts with third party vendors, business partners, licensee agreements, commercial alliances among others (both english and Spanish)

·       Offer thought leadership, collaboration, and legal advice on cross-functional issues and initiatives

·       Legal advice and follow-up with outside counsels for commercial lawsuits and related topics

·       Create or support the implementation of legal strategies

·       Legal analysis of new regulation or amendments to existing regulation, applicable to American Express, identifying main impacts to inform and implement them in timely manner

·       Guide management on regulatory and compliance issues and coordinate efforts to comply with local legislation and support compliance of internal policies

·       Provide legal advice on advertising issues being part of the committee in charge to approve marketing materials for all line of business within the company.   

Minimum Qualifications:

·       Bachelor’s degree in Law (specialization or master degree’s desirable)

·       5+ years of relevant work experience in a law firm and/or in-house corporate legal environment (desirable financial institutions, Fintechs, and/or any other relevant participant within the payments network system in Mexico)

·       Direct experience and knowledge in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex, commercial agreements and all other type of agreements

·       Strong ability to communicate complex issues clearly and persuasively, in both written and oral format, and to synthesize complex issues for senior business leaders

·       Provide thoughtful and practice advice to the business and other cross functional teams in different legal matters related to its functions

·       Proven ability to act as a trusted advisor

·       Ability to effectively interact at all levels within the organization and with external counterparties

·       Expertise in the regulatory framework applicable to the payments ecosystem in Mexico.

·     Experience advising on topics related to Consumer Protection Law/Marketing material review, Data Protection Law as well as Intellectual Property Law.

·         Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with passion for generating creative and innovative solutions

·       Ability to understand and integrate details of business operational/systemic environment in applying legal and policy requirements

·       Efficient and agile regulatory analysis and implementation

·       Strong interpersonal and leadership skills / communication, decision making, goals orientation & problem solving

·       Proactive, less supervision required, business-oriented

·       Excellent communication skills, both verbal and writing

·       Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills and ability to work well in cross-functional team settings

·       Used to work in very demanding environments

·       Adaptability to change

·       Advanced Business/Legal English verbal and writing

·       Self-motivated, high level of personal energy and commitment

We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

Competitive base salaries 

Bonus incentives 

Support for financial-well-being and retirement 

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location) 

Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need 

Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location) 

Free access to global on-site wellness centers staffed with nurses and doctors (depending on location) 

Free and confidential counseling support through our Healthy Minds program 

Career development and training opportunities

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.